Sampling device



.,E. 2, 119440. J. E. VALENTINE SAMPLING DEVICE Filed March 22, 1958 'l Il,... Il...

4 INVENTOR. Zu/: /enZ-Lne M? ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 NlTED STABS ATENT OFFICE 1 claim.

This invention relates to sampling devices, and more particularly to devices for sampling such material as face powder.

I-Ieretofore, it has been a prevalent practice in 5 the trade to provide pass-out samples by means of envelopes or the like with small quantities of powder, such as face powder. These samples are given to buyers or other persons who may be interested as possible prospects for the product, for

l the prospect to try out in the hopes of thereby getting that prospect to become a purchaser of the product. Such method of furnishing samples has proved relatively inefcient, ineective and unsatisfactory for several reasons, amongst which l may be listed the fact that many such samples are never used, a separate powder puff is necessary and often one is usedwhich already has a different powder thereon from previous use or sampling, the powder has to be emptied from the 0 envelope and the user, even if taking the trouble to go that far, may iind the operation so messy as to 'throw the sample away without even'trying it, and if several are sampled may become confused as to what commercial package is represented by the sample, and for divers other reasons may fail to become a purchaser even though the powder is one which would normally appeal to the desire.

The hope of the manufacturer in distributing samples is, of course, to switch sales from a 30 competitive product over to his own, and unless an effective appeal is made through the sample employed, there can be no hope of accomplishing the result.v

The primary object of the invention is there- 35 fore, to provide a sampler for face powder and the like which willY overcome the shortcomings of prior practice and obtain an effective, efficient use of the sampling device.

More specifically, objects of the invention are 40 to provide a sampling device in which the powder to be sampled is conveniently retained and is conveniently used for sampling purposes; to avoid messy operationsl of sampling; to provide a sampler which will give the true characteristics 45 of the powder being sampled; to enable the user to identify the ultimate package with certainty that is to be purchased for more powder of the same kind; to enable the user to sample the product repeatedly at different times and to con- 50 veniently carry the sample of powder around without being exposed or without being spilled; to enable the user to have the sample at hand as a means of identifying the ultimate product when purchase is being made; to combine in a 55 single sampler a facsimile of the package to be sold; to incorporate in the sampler as part of the same the said facsimile; a -sample of the powder itself and a powder puff ready for use with the sample of powder therein.

Another object of the invention is to enable the user to visually inspect the color and other characteristics of the powderwhile the powder is stilll within the sampler; to entirely enclose the powder until actually used on the face or elsewhere in Isampling the same; and to enable the powder to be used in quantities and under approximately the same conditions as pertains when using the commercial product.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved method of manufacture of samplers, tending toward economical production, certainty of quantity of powder in the sampler; simplicity in production; certainty of sealing; and other advantages and results as may be brought out in v the following description.

Finally, objects of the invention are to provide samplers which will be acceptable to the prospect, both to keep and try, to indicate the commercial v package sought to be sold irrespectivey of when the sampler is used `or by whom; thereby obtaining a satisfactory, relatively efficient effective sample. Further objects will be apparent, and

if not fully apparent will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and relation established for resultant or stated benefits and purposes accomplished, as well as method of manufacture, as herein indicated by direct or indirect reference thereto and/or exemplified in the following detailed disclosures of drawing or description, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claim.

For a more exact and complete understanding v of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description of the selected exemplications of the invention, taken in connection with the ac- Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. l and 2 respectively, showing a modified construction;

Figure 5 is a face view of the assembled blanks prior to the cutting of the samplers from the blank, the same being viewed from the face opposite from the face exposed in Figs. 1 and 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional ViewI on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figure '7 is a face view of a template employed for applying powder of appropriate amount and at appropriate places upon one of the blanks; and

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view on line 8 8 of Figure 7 showing powder applied.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing reference numeral I0 indicates what may be termed for convenience the front member of the sampler. This front member is constructed to be impervious or nonporous to the passage of powder, and may be of any suitable material such as paper, leather, or other pliable material. On the rear of this front member ID is a back member II which is preferably the same size and shape as the front member with the margins of both members secured permanently together so as to prevent powder I2 between said members from escaping except as it may pass through the back member I I. The said back member II is of suitable material pervious to powder and preferably having a pile or other soft exposed facev enabling the same to function as a powder puff. 4 Appropriate pressure, usually accomplished by patting the device against the face or other part of the body where the sampler is to be used causes small quantities of the powder to sift through4 the pervious powder-applying back member II, thereby enabling the sampler to be repeatedly used until the contained powder I 2 is consumed. It being expected that the sampler will thereafter be ultimately thrown away.

The exposed face of the front member I is delineated and otherwise printed, lithographed or otherwise surface-decorated as to represent a perspective or other reproduction of the ultimate commercial package which the user is being urged to buy by use of the sample. To this end, the present showing of Figure 1 illustrates the front face of the sampler as a representation of a circular box, the outline of which represents the shape of the sampler, that shape, with the various delineations I3 thereon, as well as appropriate coloring (not shown) and other artistic effects, results in the sampler presenting a true picture of the package in which the commercial quantities of the powder are sold. Consequently no matter how often the sampler is used, the user has impressed the effective characteristic of the powder by such use and the character of the box or other package to be purchased for obtaining more of the same kind of powder. If so desired, the sampler may be constructed with a window in the frontmembers, such a construction being illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In these views, the front member Illa and back member I Ia. are of the same character and serve the same purpose asI herein described with respect to Figs. l and 2 for the corresponding parts. Powder I2 is contained within the enclosure by the two members IIla and IIa which are peripherally secured at their margins as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. A suitable part of the front member I0 may have an opening I-d cut therein, the opening being covered by any suitable transparent material, such as glassine, Cellophane or the like, I5 preferably secured on the inside of said member to the margin around the opening. The invention contemplates use of only a relatively small window opening I 4 and window covering I5 not only for the resultant economy in material used for the covering, but toalso avoid the stiifening effect upon the device when used as a puff which is introduced by making the Cellophane or other covering co-extensive with the entire sampler. Furthermore, by use of a window opening and window covering of less than the full size of the sampler, the window covering need be but slightly larger than the opening and held in place by adhesion. As will more clearly appear hereinafter, the inside surface of the front member has a coating of thermo-plastic thereon,

and by superposing a margin of the window covering upon the said inner surface and then applying heat and pressure by a die of appropriate size and shape, the superposed margins of the member around the window and the window covering will be permanently joined and the opening sealed to escape of powder. The window covering is thus secured in place; is substantially no larger than the window opening, is not interposed next the outer margins of the members and thus will not interfere with subsequently obtaining adhesion of the outer margins of said members; avoids necessity of uniting more than two members at any one part; eliminates stitching or other more expensive and less satisfactory means of assembly; and is sealed entirely around its margin against escape of powder. The window opening is conveniently made to conform to the design of the particular package illustrated by surface decoration of the member Illa, although of course it may be arbitrarily positioned or cut if so desired. The user may readily observe various characteristics of the powder within the sampler by looking through the window opening, thereby readily observing the consistency of the powder, its color, its fineness and so on.

The sampler as thus described combines as a single unit a facsimile of the package which the distributor desires the user to purchase, together with a generous sample of the powder itself and with the powder furnished within a sampler which will act as a puff, ready for immediate and repeated use. The sampler accordingly has attractive characteristics which will tend to persuade and merit actual use. In the form presented, the sampler is ready for instant use and the quantity of powder carried is suflicient to last normally from two to four days', and the powder is thus protected andfin a convenient condition for immediate and repeated use. It will be thus seen, that not only has the advertiser presented his sample, but he has presented it in such a way that it is practically assured of use and during the three of four days of use, he is constantly presenting before the user a facsimile of the package he hopes to sell. He is therefore presenting to the customer a sampler as well as a puff and facsimile of the package in a form which enables the user to try out the powder at any convenient time or place and retain the sampler for future use thereby retaining the facsimile of the package both for impressinglits appearance upon the user and for comparison in actually making purchase of the commercial package.

While the process of manufacture of the sampler may be carried out as best suits manufaoturing requirements, I preferably employ a method of manufacture which will now be described. The front and back members of the sampler are originally parts of larger blanks I6 75 and l'l respectively from which a number of the said members are ultimately cut. The inside face of the front blank lli is preferably sprayed with cementitious material, indicated by stipling I3. The cementitious material is preferably a thermo-plastic, that is to say, of a character rendering it adhesive only when heated. Therefore, after the inner face of blank l has been sprayed and dried, the surface is substantially not adhesive at normal or room temperature and the sheet may be handled and treated in absence of heat as if no adhesive had been applied. Accordingly, the surface decoration on the other side of said blank may be made before or after spreading of the adhesii'e at the back side. In Figs. 5 and 7, the dotted lines i3 indicate the surface decoration has been already applied and the stipling indicates the spraying of the adhesive has been completed. A templet lil is next laid upon the surface of the blank lli, said templet having properly positioned holes 2t therein and extending entirely through the templet is. These holes are made in the templet to correspond to the centers or approximate cen.n ters of the samplers ultimately to be cut from the blanks. The templet is accordingly laid upon the face of the front member blank it next the already applied adhesive. Thereafter, a quantity of powder is introduced into each one of said holes 2li. In this connection it may be said that the holes can be used as measures for determining the amount of powder to be left in each sampler, if so desired, merely by wiping off any excess of powder above the level of the templet. In view of the fact that the cementiticus material is not effective as an adhesive in the absence of heat, the templet is readily lifted and will leave a mound of powder at each center or midportion of the ultimate sampler to be cut from the blank. The templet thus serves the double purpose of positioning and of measuring the powder. Thereafter, a suitable blanlf; of fabric ll is carefully laid upon the first blank so as not to materially spread the several little piles of powder. This second blank is substantially the same size of the first and the two are then subjected to a die pressure which applies a rim of heat around what is to ultimately be the margin of the several sampling devices. The unit, consisting of the lithographed or decorated member, the positioned powder, and fabric or pervious member having thus been superposed, is now introduced into a press and subjected thereby to a hot-die pressure at the parts to be secured. In Fig. 5 the heavy line 2l represents the crease produced by the innermost circumferential edge of the hot-pressing die. The area within the said line 2| has not been subjected to any effective heat action of the heating die and accordingly no adhesion has resulted between the front .and back blanks lil and l1 within that area.

After the blanks have been caused to adhere, the same may be cut by hand or by use of a cutting die, the cutting being effected on the outside line of the ultimate product which in Figs. 5 and 7 is indicated by numeral li as part of the surface decoration of the front member. Accordingly, adhesion is controlled by the design or shape of the hot die used, or, as may be seen in Fig. 5, that portion lying between the dotted line i3 and the heavy line 2i. It will be further apparent that the powder now sealed in the pocket will, on handling, adjust itself evenly over the surface, and a thin film of the powder kills any adhesive qualities of the therino-plastic which was untouched by the hot die and makes it inert for any further use with hot dies, and at the same time makes the face member more impervious to the powder. The powder, however, does not extend into the area around the margin defined by the solid line and dotted line i3 where the die is actually engaging the blank, and therefore the device is sealed with a closed pocket having the powder therein and the only way in which the powder may thereafter get out of the pocket is by sifting through the porous material or fabric.

Obviously other methods of manufacture and other detailed changes and modifications in the structure, assembly and ornamentations of the sampling device may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention when construed in the light of the prior art.

I claim:

A method of manufacturing powder sampling devices which comprises applying a thermoplastic material inactive as an adherent under normal temperatures but having adhesive properties when heated, applying a templet to the said member on the side thereof having the thermo-plastic material under conditions of said material being substantially nonadherent, the templet having holes at predetermined positions, applying powder at the said predetermined positions by filling said holes, removing the templet and leaving the powder, applying a second member and applying pressure and heat to areas surrounding the powder and thereby completely sealing the powder between said members except as it may be permitted to sift through one of said members.

JOSEPH E. VALENTINE. 

